Three Gang Members Plead Guilty in Gruesome 2009 Stabbing Death

Three men accused of brutally stabbing a 35-year-old Mexican man to death in January 2009, then dumping his body near a South County berry field pleaded guilty to charges and admitted the killing had gang motivations, according to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office.

Jose Velasquez, Alejandro Chavez, and Cristobal Ramirez entered the pleas Friday afternoon.

Velasquez, Chavez, and Ramirez, members of the Mexican Side Locos, a Sureño street gang, lured Oscar Sanchez into Ramirez' vehicle and drove him to a remote farming area in the Pajaro Valley on Jan. 6, 2009, according to the D.A.'s Office.

The assault started in the car while they were driving. When they stopped near a berry field, Sanchez, 35, was forced from the vehicle and attacked with a knife. Sanchez was stabbed 80 times and suffered multiple mortal wounds, District Attorney Bob Lee stated early on in the court case.

Sanchez's body was discovered off Carlton Road the following day. The suspects were arrested within a month and have been held in Santa Cruz County Jail ever since.

Velasquez, who authorities have described as a "Watsonville gang leader," pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and participating in a criminal street gang. The 30-year-old will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.  

Chavez, 26, pleaded to 17 different felonies including: manslaughter, kidnapping, robbery, criminal threats and participating in a criminal street gang. He will be sentenced to 60 years in state prison and will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence.  

Ramirez, 23, pleaded to seven different felonies including: manslaughter, kidnapping, criminal threats, destruction of evidence and participating in a criminal street gang.  He will be sentenced to 35 years in state prison and will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence.  

The men will be sentenced July 23 by Judge Timothy Volkmann.